Daggers could move defender forward to make troublesome area more tenacious

Dagenham & Redbridge could be set to recall either Sam Ling or Josh Staunton for the trip to Gateshead in the National League on Saturday in a move which would see extra bite added to their midfield.

With Matt Robinson having been out since November with a broken leg, Daggers have lacked a genuine box-to-box midfielder.

Frankie Raymond has been filling in their ever since, but has struggled in that role in recent weeks.

Bringing Ling in at right-back would allow Scott Doe to move to centre-back, with Shaun Donnellan moving up to Raymond’s role.

Alternatively, Staunton could also come in at right-back, or be installed straight into midfield.

Rather than drop out altogether, Raymond could be given a stay of execution and pushed forward into the number 10 role.

That would lead to Jake Sheppard, who has struggled in recent weeks, dropping out and Jordan Maguire-Drew moving back out to the right.

Elsewhere, Mark Cousins is likely to remain in goal, with Craig Robson and Joe Widdowson also in defence, Fejiri Okenabirhie on the left wing and Oliver Hawkins up top.

Again, there is an outside chance both Curtley Williams and Robinson could be among the substitutes, as might Luke Guttridge following their injuries.

Luke Howell (torn quad) and Luke Pennell (ACL) are both set to miss out, but should be ready for selection in the not-too-distant future.

Daggers: Cousins; Ling, Doe, Robson, Widdowson; Boucaud, Donnellan; Maguire-Drew, Raymond, Okenabirhie; Hawkins